INTERVIEW WITH AS.

PHOTOGRAPHER ALEX SALINAS HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO MAGAZINES SUCH AS DAZED AND CONFUSED, ELLE AND HARPER’S BAZAAR FOR OVER A DECADE. HE HAS SHOT SOME OF THE MORE ICONIC CAMPAIGNS FOR DESIGNER VERONIQUE BRANQUINHO AND DELVAUX. HIS WORK IS BOTH POETIC AND INNOVATIVE. FOR HONEST BY, ALEX TOOK OVER 300 PHOTOGRAPHS IN LESS THAN 5 DAYS. WE MET SALINAS IN HIS STUDIO IN ANTWERP TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HIMSELF, PHOTOGRAPHY AND HIS OPINION ON HONEST BY.

By Bruno Pieters

BP: YOU SHOT OVER 300 IMAGES FOR HONEST BY IN JUST 5 DAYS. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE FOR EVERYONE. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE RESULT?AS: It was quite a challenge and fairly intense, but I think the whole team worked well together and did a great job.

BP: WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE HONEST BY BRUNO PIETERS CAMPAIGN? WHAT MOOD OR ATMOSPHERE DID YOU WANT TO CREATE?AS: As a kid, I once saw a classical bust that had a fluorescent orange spray-painted tag over its eyes. This image has stayed with me ever since. When we started to discuss your ideas for the campaign, and about combining black and white images with a touch of color, it seemed the perfect time to refer back to this image for inspiration. Nothing too complicated; very punk. very direct. very honest.

BP: YOU ALSO TOOK SOME AMAZING BLACK AND WHITE PORTRAITS FOR THE ITEMS PAGE. SOME MODELS WERE PROFESSIONAL, SOME WERE FRIENDS AND OTHERS WERE MEMBERS OF STAFF. WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, MAKES A GOOD MODEL?AS: I think everybody can be a good model. It all depends on the time and place. But in general, a good model has a great natural balance in his/her body and an open playful mind. When modelling, you should be able to forget the fact that you're posing and be in some sort of playful dialogue with the photographer.

BP: HAS PHOTOGRAPHY CHANGED A LOT IN PAST FEW YEARS?AS: It has. I still think that shooting in a digital format is completely different from shooting analogue. The feel, texture and concentration are all different. I now appreciate both formats, but in the past I have had some trouble adjusting.

BP: WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY?AS: Those rare moments when everything feels right, and simply falls into place...that is, the chemistry of the moment.

BP: WHEN I EXPLAINED TO YOU THE CONCEPT FOR HONEST BY YOU SEEMED VERY ENTHUSIASTIC. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE HONEST BY CONCEPT?AS: We are living in an exciting time full of many big changes within various industries, and I think the Honest by concept fulfills the consumers growing expectations. People want to be informed. They want honesty.

BP: WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT ALL THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?AS: I think that many of todays problems can be related back to the issue of global overpopulation. There are simply too many of us on this globe, however it seems to remain a taboo subject since in politics we still don't dare to touch this topic. Nuclear energy is also a big concern if you see what impact one little accident can have.

BP: DO YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU BUY?AS: To be honest, I never really have. But thanks to projects like Honest by, people start to become more aware of the entire production process.

BP: WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY OR MOTTO?AS: Recognize your own mistakes and learn.

BP: WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT LIFE SO FAR?AS: To enjoy, stay calm, observe and have your moments.